Cotula L.

Compositae, H. Beentje, C. Jeffrey & D.J.N. Hind. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial herbs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, sometimes opposite or rosulate, pinnatisect, lobed, or sometimes entire

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula solitary, pedunculate, heterogamous, disciform, discoid, or rarely radiate with short rays; capitulum stalk sometimes inflated below the capitulum; involucre hemispherical, the phyllaries few-seriate, these slightly unequal, with scarious margins; receptacle flat to conical

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Outer florets 1–multi-seriate, female, fertile, generally stalked, with short tube or no tube at all; disc florets hermaphrodite or some sterile intermixed, with (3–)4 lobes, sometimes saccate beneath, the lobes with resin canals, sometimes one lobe expanded to a radiate limb; anthers included, the bases obtuse; style ± included, the branches truncate or obtuse

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes dorsiventrally flattened, often laterally winged, usually with hairs; pappus absent.